Vertical Aerospace to Make First Public eVTOL Flight at Farnborough Airshow 2026

Vertical Aerospace to Make First Public eVTOL Flight at Farnborough Airshow 2026

Vertical Aerospace has announced plans to conduct its first-ever public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demonstration flight at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow (July 20–24, 2026), marking a milestone in airshow history.

In addition to a crewed public flight of its full-scale prototype, Vertical will display a full-scale static model of its commercial aircraft, the Valo, at the show.

UK CAA Expands Permit to Fly

Vertical expects to conduct public demonstration flights throughout the event, subject to approved flying conditions. The planned flights were made possible by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently expanding Vertical's Permit to Fly, authorizing the company for the first time to perform public demonstration flights at a location other than its flight test centre at Cotswold Airport.

Key Milestones Planned for Coming Months

Vertical has outlined the following key milestones over the coming months:

• Critical Design Review (CDR): Expected to be completed by end of 2026, establishing a certifiable design baseline and initiating the build and test of certification-compliant aircraft.
• Production Industrialization: Early production aircraft assembly facilities expected to be activated in Q3 2026, with capacity at the Vertical Energy Centre to be expanded in Q4 2026.
• Hybrid-Electric Program: A long-term turbogenerator supplier is expected to be selected in 2026, in preparation for hybrid-electric flight testing in the first half of 2027.

Airshow Forums: Industry Leaders to Discuss the Future of Advanced Air Mobility

During the show, Vertical executives will participate in several industry forums, joining sector leaders to discuss the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and the critical steps needed to bring electric aviation to commercial reality.

Monday, July 20 | 11:15–12:00 Hall 3 – AGN Theatre 1L | UK Leadership in Advanced Air Mobility

The UK has established itself as one of the world's leading Advanced Air Mobility ecosystems, with pioneering aircraft development, a progressive regulatory environment, world-class operators, and deep aerospace heritage. How to translate this first-mover advantage into commercial success will be the central focus of this panel.

Confirmed speakers:

• Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair, UK Civil Aviation Authority (Moderator)
• Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace
• David Stepanek, EVP & Chief Transformation Officer, Bristow Group
• Giancarlo Buono, Group Director of Safety & Aerospace Regulation, UK CAA
• Andy Sage, Safety Transformation Director, NATS & Co-Chair, Future Flight Industry Group
• Ajita Hathlia, Deputy Director, Aviation Safety, Innovation & Skills, UK Department for Transport

Tuesday, July 21 | 15:00–16:00 Hall 4 – AGN Theater | eVTOL Market Deep Dive

Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson will also join the eVTOL Market Deep Dive panel hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald, a key session at Farnborough's inaugural Financial Summit, designed to connect financial institutions with global aerospace leaders. Simpson will take the stage alongside fellow industry CEOs to discuss the current state of progress and the flight vision for the eVTOL market.

Confirmed panelists:

• Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace
• Kyle Clark, Founder & CEO, BETA Technologies
• JoeBen Bevirt, Founder & CEO, Joby Aviation
• Adam Goldstein, Founder & CEO, Archer Aviation

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